The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-05-13
Scarlet Fever and its Prevention.

The Pennsylvania State Board of
Health has issued circular relative to
that highly contagious and infectious
disease, scarlet fever, which is o be even
more dreaded than small poX. for # can
not be avoided by vaccination, and
claims its victims even in greater num-
bers than that dread disease. Along
with diphtheTia, it is he most dreaded
as it is the most fatal of the diseases Of
childhood, and it is therefore highly de
sTable that all parents should under
stand the uature Of the disease aud the
best means of preventing its spread.
Sore JhrOats and skin eTuptOns are often
the precursors OF scarlet fever, and when
these are detected, the patient should at
once be separated from the rest of the
family until physician has been called
in or the symptoms named have disap
peared. One fact should always be
borne in mind, and that is, the mildest
case Of scarlet fever may communicate
the disease in its most fatal form.
The poison of scarlet fever may be-
communicated by personal contact, by
infected clothing from the discharges II
the patient in fact from any articles
which have been touched by him no
matter how trivial they may be. The
discharges Of the nose, eyes, ears, skin,
and body generally are considered more
dangerous than all else, and the danger
remains 50 long as the skin is in an un-
healthy condition and pee!s off IL flakes
or scales. This period is never less than
forty days, and sometimes is twice as
great The time which intervenes be-
tween the exposure u cOntagIOn and the
appearance of the disease is various-it
may be six days OF four times as long,
so that parents are often deceived as I"
the source Of the infection.
Scarlet fever is usually regarded az
one of the diseases of childhood, and IL
fact, the greatest number Of deaths from
it are children under ten years of age,
but nevertheless it is sometimes con
tracted by adults, and although in q
mild form, they may convey it to child
zen in its most malignant shape. Usu-
ally one attack prevents a recurrence ;
neither is It a disease to which all child
rem are subject many are not attacked
by it, and none would be if the poison
germ could be kept from them.
As is the result Of special poison
the first step TO secure immunity is to
prevent the exposure of the children ru
its influence. When the disease breaks
out in a school, The pupils should az
once be Withdrawn. and kept from those
houses where it exists. When it appesrs
in a family, those children not affected
should be removed to places out of dan
ger. The parents should refrain from
attending church OF other public Assem-
blies as much as possible.
Pure water should be used as far as il
Is prOCurable. If there is any doubt Of itI
character, IL shOuld be beiled. Car,
should also be given to pure foods anC
milk, and these should never be received
trrm homes in which the disease j.
known 10 have been within recent pc
IiOd. Cleanliness is another precautiOI
that is strenuOus!y insisted upon, filtl
is considered promoter of scarlet fever
Sewer gas must not be allowed and al
foul od0rs of whatever kind should b
destroyed. All these precautions ma,
not prevent the contagiOn in certain
cases, but they nevertheless may do S
in many and their observance is there
fore of she utmost importance.